Chương 15: Book 1 - Chapter 15: A Whole New World

Dominic mimicked him a heartbeat later, crouching and then springing after Leo, grabbing at the empty air with claws unsheathed. Instead of falling through the space, Dominic's paws hit something that felt like jelly. Ripping at the material, Dominic snarled in satisfaction as he felt something give. A flash of green appeared where his claws had just been. It was revealed only for a moment as the shroud recovered, but it was progress all the same. Do this, Leo! he called.

The lion glanced over at him and then copied his actions without arguing. Little by little, they made progress as the shroud struggled to keep up with the damage. The flash of green turned into a section of green fur, and then a leg, and then a torso. Finally, the shroud failed completely and an almost solidly green figure lurched into sight, stumbling away from where both lions were still clawing at the solidified air.

It looked like a weird kind of Stitch with big eyes, big ears, six limbs, and a long dog-like snout full of sharp teeth. Most notable were the obvious clothes it was wearing – a tight tunic and short trousers, but clothes for sure. And it was glaring as it edged towards a door that had opened in the wall.

"System-damned anomalies! You weren't supposed to–" It cut itself off with a yelp as Dominic lunged at it, determined to get his teeth around one of its limbs and force some answers out of it. Because the talking had indicated something important – this being might be able to give him some necessary answers about what was going on. It dodged to the side, faster than he'd expected. A brush of a tail against him let him know that Leo was with him.

"No! Keep away! You're not supposed to– No!" the creature yelped as Leo also lunged, his teeth clicking together on thin air just as Dominic's had, but Leo was closer. Foreign as the creature's features were, fear was clearly written on them. It backed away towards the wall again, fumbling for something behind it. Dominic and Leo stalked towards it, identical snarls rumbling in their chests. Dominic couldn't help a thrill at realising this was his first proper hunt with another lion.

Then Dominic's excitement turned to wariness as the creature pulled out something that looked like a fancy golden pen, triumph on its face.

"If you won't listen, I'll make you!" Wariness became apprehension as the creature twisted the lid of the pen and a small golden orb appeared hovering just above it. Dominic pulled up short, feeling the sudden urge to get away as the creature levelled the orb at him with a sadistic look on its face. A beam shot out of the orb. Dominic leapt to the side to avoid it, but the beam seemed to follow him. Pain exploded through Dominic, like the transformation had felt every time he'd done it, only dialed up to a hundred.

The agony was immediate and overwhelming, stealing the air from his lungs and forcing him to fall onto his belly on the tiled floor. Beside him Leo collapsed with a strangled snarl. Glancing upwards, Dominic saw that the creature had pulled out a second device and had struck his companion with the same kind of attack.

"That's better," the creature said, sounding so self-satisfied it made Dominic sick.

"Stupid newbies. So outclassed and you don't even realise it." Dominic forced his head upward. The creature stood above them both, the devices held by one set of hands, the other set perched on its hips. Dominic yearned to punch off its smug, self-satisfied expression, but the pain pinned him in place, made his muscles so weak that they refused to move. He tried anyway, pressing all of his determination into pushing up onto his paws.

He managed to lift himself an inch, then his legs spasmed and dumped him back on the stone floor. The creature watched all of his struggles with a sadistic expression on its face.

"That's it, keep on trying to resist. It will make your eventual submission so much sweeter," the creature goaded him. Won't…submit, Dominic thought at it, glaring with all the intensity he could muster, and once more attempting to rise. This time, he failed to make it even an inch. The pain was awful – numbing and shocking in equal measures, like he was in contact with a high-voltage electrical wire.

"Sure you will," the creature told him patronisingly.

"They all do." A moment later, a disgruntled expression replaced the satisfaction.

"Pity you've passed the minimum threshold to continue existing. I was looking forward to dumping you into the death games like the rest of them." Then the gleeful expression returned.

"Still, you're the one who tore away my shroud, so the boss can hardly complain if I have a little fun." Dominic suddenly realised that this must be the invisible watcher he'd sensed. It made him even more determined to get at the creature and he made a redoubled effort to creep forwards. This time, he met with some success – shifting a single paw two inches forward. A sudden beeping came from the creature's clothes, causing it to look disgruntled.

Fishing around in a pocket with one of its free hands, it pulled out something that looked a little like a smartphone. Dominic moved another paw forward.

"System-damn it," the creature muttered.

"Stupid minions. They can't even create a simple anomaly test without a supervisor to stop them from messing up." Tucking its phone back into its pocket, the creature looked up at Dominic and Leo.

"Looks like it's your lucky day. Take my advice, and learn not to grasp for things that are out of your reach," it told them patronisingly. Then, using its second pair of arms to twist the caps on the pens, the orbs disappeared. And with them, the beams of light. The creature turned and resumed its steps towards the door, this time sauntering rather than hurrying. The pain faded slowly, and left a numbness behind that made it hard to tell exactly where his limbs ended. But Dominic didn't care about that.

His mind was fixed on the creature's final words. Things out of my reach? he repeated. Things out of my reach? In that moment, he didn't see the green creature, but every person who had told him that he couldn't do something. His English teacher who had encouraged his love of literary classics, but told him sadly that creative writing would never be his strong point. His form teacher who had tried to redirect his focus to a more 'normal' job.

His coworkers at the cafe who had laughed behind his back at his ambitions and said that he'd still be working there in ten years. Even his father, whose recent betrayal still cut deeply. Fury at them and determination to prove them wrong, powered Dominic's lunge. He leaped forwards, ears back, teeth bared, eyes focused on his target. Things beyond my reach? You aren't! He was vaguely aware of Leo running to block the exit, even as he charged at the green creature.

It made a high-pitched noise of surprise, clumsily dodging sideways and just avoiding Dominic's teeth. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Dominic twisted in place and lunged again, but it was too late. A golden beam took him in the chest again even as another flew out to hit Leo.

"Wretched anomaly," the creature panted, looking a little rattled. Then it took a breath, its second pair of hands straightening its clothing as it calmed down.

"My minions will have to wait until I've taught you a lesson." No longer frightened, there was a distinct gleam of eagerness in its eyes as it once more enjoyed the pain wracking the two leonine forms. But this time Dominic refused to allow it to keep him there. He would prove to the creature that he was someone to watch, someone to be wary of. If he couldn't become a famous playwright any longer, he would earn his acclaim otherwise.

And that started here and now, with this arrogant 'supervisor' trying to keep him down. We need to attack. Can you move? Dominic forced out through the haze of pain, somehow certain that the creature wouldn't be able to hear him when he spoke to his companion. Leo was also crumpled in a heap – but blocking the door perfectly. If he couldn't move, maybe that would be fine as long as Dominic could. Leo didn't answer at first, but then a faint growl met his ears. A little. Lead us, brother.

Dominic took a deep breath, then forced himself to his feet. It felt like trying to push a ton of concrete while people around him beat him with sticks, but Dominic refused to give up. And, even with sparks of agony causing his muscles to spasm and collapse underneath him, he made it. Not upright, but enough to support his body weight on his paws rather than his belly. He crawled forwards, one paw at a time, ignoring the pain and difficulty by fixing his eyes on his target. One paw; then another.

The creature watched him with amusement at first, but it rapidly transformed into confusion, and then concern crept in. Suddenly the agony Dominic was feeling doubled and he collapsed to the ground with a heart-felt moan. Glancing upwards by twitching his heavy, heavy head, he realised that both devices of the creature were pointed at him. A moment later, the creature made an alarmed sound and the pain suddenly reduced.

Feeling like a massive weight had been taken off him, even if he was still suffering, Dominic lifted his head to see that Leo had leaped forwards. He must have taken advantage of both golden light beams being directed at Dominic. The other lion now lay crumpled on the ground, body trembling under the renewed assault. Dominic's chest tightened. Leo? The lion's head shifted towards him. Take it. Hunt prey. A faint warmth flowed through Dominic and gave his limbs more strength.

Even as he felt that, he saw Leo crumple even further. Somehow, the lion had managed to literally give him his strength. The unselfish gesture and the trust expressed by it made Dominic's resolve firm into adamant. Leo wouldn't regret his choice – Dominic would make sure of it. Paw by paw, each faster than the previous, Dominic pressed forwards. Each step was an act of will; each inch gained was a victory.

And as Dominic saw the concern turn to panic on the creature's expression, he was pretty sure that it was about to make a break for it. Leo, can you grab it if it tries to dodge past you? I can, the lion replied, sounding far less afflicted than Dominic was expecting. Perhaps he was choosing to pretend more weakness than he actually felt. A good strategy. Another two steps, and the creature's nerve finally broke. Turning, it ran for the door, the beams of light disappearing as the pens went dim.

But Dominic was faster. When Leo surged to his feet and blocked the creature from escaping, Dominic was there. His jaws closed on the arm of the creature, biting down and into rubbery-like flesh. There was no blood. Instead something else burst through Dominic's mind – a flood of alien knowledge and fragmented memories rushing into him all at once. The sheer weight of it made his head feel like it might split apart. And like a flood, far more of it poured out than remained.

The green creature shrieked, high-pitched enough to make Dominic and Leo cringe. Bright white light flashed, forcing the lions to close their eyes, and there was a sudden tight sensation, like Dominic was being crammed into a space just slightly too small for him. But it only lasted a moment. When the light intensity reduced sufficiently for them to open their eyes again, the creature was gone, and so was the door.

They were back in the savannah cage – Dominic could tell immediately from the lack of breeze or ambient sound. Correction: he was back in the savannah cage – when he looked around, Leo wasn't anywhere to be seen. I'm here. Dominic heard the voice as he always had – in his head. You're not somehow invisible and standing next to me, are you? he asked, resigning himself to what he suspected was the reality. No. Dominic sighed – so much for having separate bodies again.

Then something else occurred and he concentrated on being human again. A moment later he slumped to the ground in disappointment. Clearly, whatever the rules of that last space – soul space, some new knowledge whispered inside him – they didn't apply now. No, that bit of him whispered again. This is a physical holding area, removed only from reality by space. Whatever that meant. And Dominic found it really weird to just 'know' some things.

Leftovers from the flood of alien knowledge that had swept through him earlier, he assumed. He certainly couldn't remember ever learning them. Pulling up his status screen, he immediately noticed some changes.

DOMINIC MARTIN COLE / LEO Species: Chimera (Anomaly – Stabilised) Form/s: Lion, [Locked] Tier/Rank: Basic, [Locked] XP Pool: 0 / 2000 Domains Predation – Basic Stage 2 Aegis – Basic Stage 2 Realm – Basic Stage 1 Conduit – Evolved Stage 1 Translocation – Evolved Stage 1 Sovereignty – Evolved Stage 1 No more question marks, Dominic commented to Leo with a mixture of satisfaction and disappointment. It seemed like he'd gained as much from the trial as he could. Wait, trial? he questioned.

The knowledge just seemed to arrive from inside of him – remnants of the flood that had poured through him when he bit the green creature, he supposed. His heart beat faster in useless threat-response and a crawling sensation went over his skin as he suddenly realised that his life since he'd been labelled as an anomaly had been more precarious than he'd thought. If he had failed to at least meet the objective in the first room of each challenge, he'd have been consigned to death – or the void in perpetuity.

He shivered and unconsciously gripped at the ground with his claws. And he somehow knew that this wasn't the end of it. He'd been given a stay of execution, but the axe was still sharp and ready should he fail to prove himself in the coming days, weeks, months. But Domnic wasn't too worried. He knew that, as long as he grew in power at a reasonable rate, he'd be spared. And already, he'd exceeded the System's expectations for Translocation, Sovereignty, and Conduit, which were all registered as Evolved.

The notifications for Translocation and Sovereignty must be in his backlog – the System had demonstrated several times that it wouldn't interrupt him in the middle of action. It was a good start, but he wanted to go far further – for his own sake, and for his father's. And for pride, Leo added, though he sounded a bit off. What is it? Dominic asked warily – was something wrong? We not lion anymore, Leo commented, clearly attempting to be nonchalant, but missing the mark somewhat.

No, Dominic agreed, feeling a little odd himself now he took the moment to think about the implications. Or human. We're some sort of chimera instead. Though it does mention a lion form – and one that's still locked. Dominic didn't know what that would mean for them in the future – not even the new knowledge he'd grabbed from the creature was giving him any clues. But what he was now certain about was that he wasn't the only one who had changed. A whole new world, he murmured more to himself than to Leo.

One ruled by a System, and by the potential for power and growth beyond which he'd ever dreamed. And as he accessed his backlog of messages, Dominic was once more reminded of that old axiom: To those who have much more is given. [Anomaly status: Approved. Bonus rewards earned. Choose rewards?]